I to watched the films and was heart broken for the handlers and dogs in the competition that were injured. It should not have happened at any level - let alone a world championship.
I think that SchH USA is on the right track....not perfect by any means, but their helper program evaluates, educates and classifies the helpers that are used for small trials as well as National events. It should be noted also that at any time a Judge may stop a trial if he or she feels the helper is unfit to do the work. That helper then is suspended from all trials and must attend seminars and be reevaluated before they are allowed to work any more trials.
There is a risk in any sport we compete in with our dogs. When the risk is so high, as seen at the FMBB....then it is time for me to find another sport.
There are many things said and to save repeating the words of others on this thread I'll keep it to the points briefly.
1.) IPO Healthy or not?
Of course IPO is healthy. At no other time in history that I know of has so many dogs been hurt in this way. I've seen many more injuries in Ring sports than I've seen in IPO, however this boils down to the helpers this time not being capable of the work not IPO being a more dangerous sport.
2.) Unqualified Helpers
I'm sure these helpers are even good helpers at their local clubs so I have a hard time accepting that this was entirely the helpers fault. They were unqualified to be there plain and simple. Someone placed them there and they should be brought into the blame. I know many great helpers in the US that I wouldn't want working a National event. I can't comment on what the "facial expressions" are on the judge...I have a hard time beleiving he was smiling at a hurt dog and a job well done by the helpers. If that is the case you can bet your last dime on the fact that I would knock out the helper and the judge for such behavior. To me it looks like a grimace to me in disgust of another dog hurt....but let's face it we are all guessing if we are analyzing a picture only!
I'm the helper chair person on the American Working Malinois Association (AWMA) board. We've had 4 National Championships since our beginning. Every year we have had pre-selected helpers and at times tryouts from those that were pre-selected. Even good helpers have choked at the pre-selected tryouts and have been rotated.
Here is our problem if you want to call it that. We want the best helpers that apply mental and physical pressure on the dogs while staying safe and consistant. Find the helpers that can apply all of those things while being athletic enough for larger events is difficult. Since that is the case we have had multiple championships with the same helpers.
YEAR 1: Joey Leigh, Edgar Sherkl YEAR 2: Glen Crawford, Brett Titus YEAR 3: Clark Niemitalo, Kim Hechler YEAR 4: Glen Crawford, Rondell Marshall (Clark N. on IPO 1's and 2's) YEAR 5: Joey Leigh, Doug Wendling (Clark N. on IPO 1's and 2's)
Here in the US we have a major problem finding the best of the best helpers. Not because we do not have helpers capable of the work as much as the cost and travel time compiled over the years for some fo the top helpers. We are a huge country...many times with distance so far apart from each club/state/region being our biggest roadblock. However we have done it well dispite these shortcomings and a WORLD EVENT like this has no excuse for the amount of dogs hurt.
People/Helpers/Judges make mistakes and for those we should forgiving. But this goes beyond the scope of mistake and into the realm of irresponsibility. The questions we should be asking ourselves is not whether IPO is healthy or not, but 1.) Are the people running the show doing good enough? 2.) Is the Courage test really about biting from 100 m down field? I'll answer both of them...NO!
Ipo dangerous or not? <Every sport with contact has the inherent risk of injuries. Here there are 4 parties to blame
1 The rganisation for selecting the decoys 2 The judges for letting the decoys work. They had to call of the championship even if it would have been a blow in the face of the organisation 3 The decoys for doing a poor job 4 The handlers for continuing to participate. The ferst 2 or 3 could have been an accident. But number 17? Sorry i would pull out my dog if i was at that stage.
For the dogs injurred. I know it is not turning back time and heal any injuries but i would seek legal action against organisator, judges and decoys. This is animal cruelty (PS i train Belgian ring so i'm not against bitework)
The handlers for continuing to participate. The ferst 2 or 3 could have been an accident. But number 17? Sorry i would pull out my dog if i was at that stage.
Exactly, if I were one of the last to participate on a competition where that many dogs were injured I would never enter. It doesn’t matter how many km I would have to drive to the competition and then home again without competing with my dog.
hunden
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The truth is out there, but so are the lies. - Dana Scully
I'm not a person that cries much, but seeing a morronic decoy snapping a dog's leg was too much for me.
I do IPO and my decoy almost broke his neck once doing a salto over a mali to prevent braking his (the dog came flying too low). One time, shit happens. Twice... ok, perhaps. Seventeen?
I really hope there will be sanctions. If the FMBB doesn't react to such an unprofessional treatment, maybe we as a Belgian forum could do something? Perhaps there isn't much we can do (and certainly we can't help those dogs), but if nothing else, we can at least raise our voices and show that such things will not be ignored...
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''If sometimes you feel a little useless, offended and depressed, always remember that you were once the fastest and victorious sperm in your group.''
I really hope there will be sanctions. If the FMBB doesn't react to such an unprofessional treatment, maybe we as a Belgian forum could do something? Perhaps there isn't much we can do (and certainly we can't help those dogs), but if nothing else, we can at least raise our voices and show that such things will not be ignored...
Lets do something! A good start is to write about this on forums (as many as possible). Many people do read (especially guests on this Forum). We do not tolerate these things!!!
hunden
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The truth is out there, but so are the lies. - Dana Scully
Hi, I've seen the dogs, I've seen the decoys. They were idiots with no skill at all. I think they were a disgrace for the sport. Further, I think section C should be BANNED if the decoys are not any better than this. This is animal cruelty. I've downloaded this video's. If these decoys are not going to be blamed officially, i'm seriously thinking of passing this video to PETA!. Also, I will talk to the fmmb president, who lives 10 min away from me. Greetings,
Someone placed them there and they should be brought into the blame.
If I was decoy I would say no thank you if I knew I was not good enough.. From info I managed to get the judge was
training decoys every morning before competition
!!
Heldengebroed you are right with your list and this one stands out to me the most
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2 The judges for letting the decoys work. They had to call of the championship even if it would have been a blow in the face of the organisation
The judge should have reacted because he knew how good decoys were since he was trying to teach them a thing or two about decoying before competition.
sstef
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I've downloaded this video's. If these decoys are not going to be blamed officially, i'm seriously thinking of passing this video to PETA!.
I wouldn´t be surprised if it would already be on their website.
What I find bad is dogs that are hurt will be out of comission for some time and even worse is that now every anti-bitework person on this planet will now point the finger at the sport not decoys. There is nothing more sensational for kinds of PETA than braking dogs legs and ribs.
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I really hope there will be sanctions. If the FMBB doesn't react to such an unprofessional treatment, maybe we as a Belgian forum could do something? Perhaps there isn't much we can do (and certainly we can't help those dogs), but if nothing else, we can at least raise our voices and show that such things will not be ignored...
Probably the most would be to touch FMBB with email and "signatures" of people and let them know that we find this kind of "shitty decoying" unacceptable. On other hand it might be better if everyone would send their own email to them and after a thousand emails they might do something.
Raven
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Do not condemn the judgment of another because it differs from your own. You may both be wrong. ~Dandemis
I know you are upset, but getting rid of the bitework pretty much negates this as any sort of test. I don't care how bad the decoys were, I watched the dang video, and the dogs that I saw were flinging themselves with typical malinois abandon. I saw the dog on the escape get stepped on, but it didn't look like an accident. I saw the decoys face as the dog was crying back to the handler. I commend him for continueing, as I would have walked of the field. I could barely take that. I know he didn't do it on purpose, but I didn't see any crazy work that was just so terrible. Mals IMO don't slow down, and that is why I like them so much.
But to even consider shutting down bitework is foolish. If I remember correctly, a good number of you don't even participate in these sports, so whats up???
Please tell me your joking with a threat to turn such videos into PETA? I understand comments made in jest to prove a point, but come F! ing on! Your telling me that you would stoop to the level of a irresponsible/I am more holy than any other level to get this group (FMBB) in trouble?
First of all we all get our hands chopped off if you can entertain the Muslim analogy, for going through a process like this. Also it took quite some time for the FMBB to find Germany at fault in the FMBB a couple years ago for their actions at the Worlds. Just because WE as members do not have an answer doesn't mean something isn't happening! Give this time ! They (FMBB Board) owe you nothing in regards to a immediate response. They are as busy as everyone else in this world and I'm sure they are working on something.
There are many countries that have great helpers (even Germany, some of the best and they still got in trouble) and we all do not deserve such irresponsible acts of LUNACY such as contacting the devil themselves PETA/UN of animal rights groups!
How fast do you want a decision! For legal reasons nothing should be posted for pete's sake! Something should be done I agree, but let's hear your ideas instead of pointing fingers in the manner of ignorant peasants in 14th century England waiting at the gallows screaming BOOOO!
EMLIMINATE BITEWORK? Yeah isn't that what all the show/conformation ppl want? Then all dogs become more equal now doesn't it? Shit...leave it to the French to f* it up for all of us!
Author
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We do not tolerate these things!!! 
